Method for Producing an Annular Hair Band and the Annular Hair Band Product

ABSTRACT

A method for producing an annular hair band includes providing an elongated, elastic woven strip having transversely extending yarns interleaved between longitudinally extending yarns. Two ends of the woven strip are overlapped. An abutting area of the two ends is greater than a cross sectional area of an end face of each end. Two non-planar dies are used to heat and compress overlapped sections of the two ends. The yarns of one of the two ends and mesh holes of another of the two ends are fused together. The two ends are flattened to form protrusions or grooves on an upper face and a lower face of a non-planar engaged portion of the two ends, thereby forming the annular hair band. The two non-planar dies are opened to remove the annular hair band for cooling. The annular hair band is capable of withstanding a stretching force greater than 2 kg.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for producing an annular hair band and the annular hair band product and, more particularly, to a hair band that has good tension capacity, that will not damage hair, and that is easy to recycle.

A conventional hair accessory can be used to hold hair to prevent messy hair while improving the hairstyling aesthetics. The hair accessory can be in the form of a straight string that is wound around the hair, and two ends of the string is tied together to hold the hair. However, tying the string is inconvenient during the hair holding procedure.

An elastic annular hair band is available on the market and can be wound around the hair several turns for holding the hair. FIG. 7 shows a structure of a conventional annular hair band 1′ including an elastic cord 11′, a woven strip 12′ and a clamping member 13′. The elastic cord 11′ is a straight cord made of rubber material. The woven strip 12′ is elastic and wraps around the elastic cord 11′. The clamping member 13′ is made of a metal material. End portions of the elastic cord 11′ and the woven strip 12′ are placed in the clamping member 13′ and are clamped by the clamping member 13′ to form the annular hair band 1′.

The above structure can provide improved hair holding quality by the woven strip 12′ contacting the hair. However, the metal clamping member 13′ of the hair band 1′ greatly reduces the overall quality of the hair band 1′. Furthermore, the elastic cord 11′, the woven strip 12′ and the clamping member 13′ are difficult to separate and recycle, which is not eco-friendly. Furthermore, the clamping force of the rubber elastic cord 11′ is far greater than that of the woven strip 12′, such that the greater clamping force easily affects the hair quality during hair holding or the hair tends to break during hair holding or removal of the hair band 1′.

FIG. 8 shows a portion of a structure of another conventional hair band 2′ disclosed by Taiwan Patent No. TW572739. The hair band 2′ includes a straight rubber elastic strip 21′ wrapped by a woven ribbon 22′ made of cloth. Two ends of the hair band 2′ are connected with an adhesive to glue two ends of the elastic strip 21′ and two ends of the woven ribbon 22′ to form the annular hair band 2′.

The above hair band 2′ is free of metal clamping members to provide improved overall quality. However, the contact area 23′ at the two ends of the hair band 2′ is small, such that the tension capacity after gluing is insufficient. As a result, the gluing area of the two ends of the hair band 2′ is apt to break during hair holding. Furthermore, the clamping force of the rubber elastic strip 21′ is far greater than that of the woven ribbon 22′, such that the greater clamping force easily causes breakage of hair during hair holding. Furthermore, the elastic strip 21′ and the woven ribbon 22′ are made of different materials and, thus, difficult to separate, which is difficult to recycle and not eco-friendly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a hair band that has good tension capacity, that will not damage hair, and that is easy to recycle.

In an aspect, a method according to the present invention comprises the following steps of:

providing an elongated, elastic woven strip, wherein the woven strip includes a plurality of longitudinally extending yarns and a plurality of transversely extending yarns interleaved between the plurality of longitudinally extending yarns, wherein the woven strip includes a plurality of mesh holes, and wherein the woven strip includes two ends;

overlapping the two ends of the woven strip, wherein adjacent outer surfaces of the two ends abut each other, wherein an abutting area of the two ends is greater than a cross sectional area of an end face of each of the two ends;

using two non-planar dies to heat and compress the overlapped sections of the two ends, wherein the yarns of one of the two ends and the mesh holes of another of the two ends are fused together to engage the two ends, wherein the two ends are flattened, and wherein protrusions or grooves are formed on an upper face and a lower face of a non-planar engaged portion of the two ends, thereby forming the annular hair band; and

opening the two non-planar dies and removing the annular hair band for cooling, wherein the annular hair band is capable of withstanding a stretching force greater than 2 kg.

In another aspect, an annular hair band according to the present invention comprises an elongated, elastic woven strip. The woven strip includes a plurality of longitudinally extending yarns and a plurality of transversely extending yarns interleaved between the plurality of longitudinally extending yarns. The woven strip includes a plurality of mesh holes. The woven strip further includes two ends which are overlapped. The yarns of one of the two ends and the mesh holes of another of the two ends are fused together to engage the two ends. The two ends are flat. Protrusions or grooves are formed on an upper face and a lower face of a non-planar engaged portion of the two ends, thereby forming the annular hair band. The annular hair band is capable of withstanding a stretching force greater than 2 kg.

The present invention provides a larger tension capacity by hot pressing fusion and the non-planar engaged portion, reliably avoiding breakage during ordinary use. Furthermore, the elastic woven strip according to the present invention provides a proper holding force without breaking hair during the hair holding procedure, thereby preventing damage to hair. Furthermore, the annular hair band according to the present invention is made of a single material to permit easy recycling and environmental protection.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a second step of the method of the embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a third step of the method of the embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating engagement of two ends of the annular hair band of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an annular hair band of an embodiment according to the present invention after production.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an annular hair band of another embodiment according to the present invention after production.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional hair band.

FIG. 8 is a partial, cross sectional view of another conventional hair band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5 , a method for producing an annular hair band of an embodiment according to the present invention comprises the following steps of:

S1: providing an elongated, elastic woven strip 1, wherein the woven strip 1 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending yarns and a plurality of transversely extending yarns interleaved between the plurality of longitudinally extending yarns, wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending yarns is a plurality of elastic yarns 10, and wherein the plurality of transversely extending yarns extends perpendicularly to the plurality of elastic yarns 10 and is a plurality of fabric yarns 11, wherein the woven strip 1 includes a plurality of mesh holes 12, and wherein the woven strip 1 includes two ends 13 and 14;

S2: overlapping the two ends 13 and 14 of the woven strip 1 (see FIG. 2 ), wherein adjacent outer surfaces of the two ends 13 and 14 abut each other, wherein an abutting area (the position indicated by A in FIG. 2 ) of the two ends 13 and 14 is greater than a cross sectional area (the position indicated by B in FIG. 2 ) of an end face of each of the two ends 13 and 14;

S3: using two non-planar dies 2 to heat and compress the overlapped sections of the two ends 13 and 14 (such as moving the two non-planar dies 2 in the vertical direction, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 ), wherein the yarns 10, 11 of one of the two ends 13, 14 and the mesh holes 12 of another of the two ends 13, 14 are fused together to engage the two ends 13 and 14, wherein each non-planar die 2 includes protrusions 21 and grooves 21, wherein the two ends 13 and 14 are flattened (FIG. 4 ), and wherein protrusions 151 or grooves 152 are formed on an upper face and a lower face of the non-planar engaged portion 15 of the two ends 13 and 14, thereby forming the annular hair band 3; and S4: opening the two non-planar dies 2 and removing the annular hair band 3 for cooling, wherein the annular hair band 3 is capable of withstanding a stretching force greater than 2 kg.

In step S2, the two ends 13 and 14 are overlapped to abut each other. Thus, the two ends 13 and 14 can be easily overlapped at a proper abutting area (the position indicated by A in FIG. 2 ). The abutting area (the position indicated by A in FIG. 2 ) of the overlapped sections of the two ends 13 and 14 is greater than a cross sectional area (the position indicated by B in FIG. 2 ) of an end face of each of the two ends 13 and 14. Thus, the engaging strength can be increased by providing a larger contact area.

Since the woven strip 1 according to the present invention includes yarns 10 and 11 and mesh holes 12, when the two ends 13 and 14 are compressed in step S3, the yarns 10 and 11 of the end 13 or the other end 14 can abut and engage with the mesh holes 12 at the other end 14 or the end 13. During the compression/fusion process, this arrangement provides an engagement effect more secure than smooth surfaces. After the compressing process performed by the dies 2, the extending direction of the protrusions 21 or grooves 22 is perpendicular to the elongating direction of the annular hair band 3. Thus, the protrusions 151 or the grooves 152 of the non-planar engaged portion 15 can provide a resistance to avoid disengagement of the two ends 13 and 14 when subjected to a stretching force for holding hair. The annular hair band 3 is advantageous over the conventional hair band including two ends whose end faces are glued (see FIG. 8 ). Furthermore, the annular hair band 3 is capable of withstanding a stretching force greater than 2 kg, which reliably avoids breakage during ordinary use.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5 , the woven strip 1 of the annular strip 3 is in the form of a hollow tube. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , the woven strip 1 has a flat shape, such that an annular hair band 4 of a smaller volume can be formed. Since the annular hair band 3, 4 is a product with a short service life, the annular hair band 3, 4 made of a single material can be directly discarded or recycled without detachment, which prevents environmental pollution to provide an environmental protection effect.

The elastic annular hair band with the woven strip 1 according to the present invention can provide a proper clamping force for holding hair without causing disadvantages of the conventional rubber elastic band (the hair tends to break during hair holding or removal of the hair band). Thus, damage to hair is prevented, and the hair quality can be maintained.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a novel producing method and structure of an annular hair band and provides effects of a large tension capacity, eco-friendliness, and preventing damage to hair.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims. 

1. A method for producing an annular hair band, the method comprising the following steps of: providing an elongated, elastic woven strip, wherein the woven strip includes a plurality of longitudinally extending yarns and a plurality of transversely extending yarns interleaved between the plurality of longitudinally extending yarns, wherein the woven strip includes a plurality of mesh holes, and wherein the woven strip includes two ends; overlapping the two ends of the woven strip, wherein adjacent outer surfaces of the two ends abut each other, wherein an abutting area of the two ends is greater than a cross sectional area of an end face of each of the two ends; using two non-planar dies to heat and compress the overlapped sections of the two ends, wherein the yarns of one of the two ends and the mesh holes of another of the two ends are fused together to engage the two ends, wherein the two ends are flattened, and wherein protrusions or grooves are formed on an upper face and a lower face of a non-planar engaged portion of the two ends, thereby forming the annular hair band; and opening the two non-planar dies and removing the annular hair band for cooling, wherein the annular hair band is capable of withstanding a stretching force greater than 2 kg.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two non-planar dies includes an outer surface having protrusions or grooves.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the woven strip is a hollow tube.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the woven strip has a flat shape.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending yarns is a plurality of elastic yarns, and wherein the plurality of transversely extending yarns extends perpendicularly to the plurality of elastic yarns and is a plurality of fabric yarns.
 6. An annular hair band comprising an elongated, elastic woven strip, wherein the woven strip includes a plurality of longitudinally extending yarns and a plurality of transversely extending yarns interleaved between the plurality of longitudinally extending yarns, wherein the woven strip includes a plurality of mesh holes, wherein the woven strip further includes two ends which are overlapped, wherein the yarns of one of the two ends and the mesh holes of another of the two ends are fused together to engage the two ends, wherein the two ends are flat, wherein protrusions or grooves are formed on an upper face and a lower face of a non-planar engaged portion of the two ends, thereby forming the annular hair band, and wherein the annular hair band is capable of withstanding a stretching force greater than 2 kg.
 7. The annular hair band as claimed in claim 6, wherein the woven strip is a hollow tube.
 8. The annular hair band as claimed in claim 6, wherein the woven strip has a flat shape.
 9. The annular hair band as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending yarns is a plurality of elastic yarns, and wherein the plurality of transversely extending yarns extends perpendicularly to the plurality of elastic yarns and is a plurality of fabric yarns. 